Float-operated circuit-breaker



W. ZEBELL.

FLOAT OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, I918.

1,336,269. Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

WILLIAM ZEBELL. OF ODELL, ILLINOIS.

FLOAT-OPERATED CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed August 28. 1918. Serial No. 251,833.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVJLLIAM ZEBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Odell, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Float-Operated Circuit-Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to float-operated circuit-breakers for internal combustion engines, and has for its primary ob ect to provide means controlled by a movable float for automatically short-circuiting or closing the ignition circuit of the engine, so as to stop the engine when the lubricatmg Oil in the crank-case becomes dangerously low, due to the insuflicient amount of oil in circulation, or when the engine has come to a stop.

In the accompanying draw1ngs:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the engine together with the oiling system and the electrical circuits;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of the float-tank.

1, indicates agas-engine of the usual construction. 2 indicates an oil-pump, which is adapted to force oil into the tank 3 through the conduit 4, which leads to the upper part of the tank and commumcates therewith at port 5. Diametrically opposite port 5 is a similar port 6, which is connected by a conduit 7 to the base portion of the engine. At the bottom of the tank is a third port 9, controlled by a suitable valve 10. This port 9, however, is of smaller diameter than the port 6, therefore the oil being forced into the tank will gradually rise and empty out of the upper port 6.

Arranged in the tank is a float 11 provided externally thereof with fins 12, 12, which are adapted to properly center the float within the tank.

13 indicates the usual magneto, which is adapted to supply current tothe spark-plug 14 of the engine, and is connected thereto by leads 15 and 16 in the usual manner.

Located above the float is a switch which preferably consists of the following construction :-Pivotally connected to the under side of the lid 17 of the tank is a switch 18, one end of which is adapted to contact with an insulated plug 19, and the other end connected to a link 20 at 21, one end of said link being pivoted as at 22 to the lid 17 of the tank, while the other end is pivotally connected to a projection 23 of the float. It is obvious that the plug 19 might be placed upon the opposite side of the pivotal point of the switch 18, thereby adapting the device for a closed circuit. 24 indicates a switch provided with the usual contact points 25 and 26, contact point 25 being in the form of a blade pivoted, as at 27, to a suitable support, and actuated by a cam 28 pivotally mounted on the base of the switch, which is in turn controlled by the rock-arm 29. The contact point 22 is connected by lead wire 30 through terminals 31 to the main wire 16 of the ma neto or other source of supply of current. The contact point 26 is connected through terminal 32 and wire 33 to the plug 19 of the float-actuated switch located in the upper part of the tank, and the contact point 19 of the switch in the upper part of the float is connected by leadwire 34 to the central electrode of the sparkplug 14. g

In use, the oil is pumped by the pump 2 into the tank 3, thence to the base of the engine, and in this manner the tank 3 being filled with the oil causes float 11 to rise to the top. In this case, the float-actuated switch is opened. If, for any reason, however, the pump should fail, oil from the tank 3 would continue to run out from the lower port 9 and drain the tank to such an extent that the float 11 would actuate the switch and contact with plug 19 and also close the contact cuiting the magneto and causing the engine to stop.

Upon starting the engine, of course the float in the tank is still in its lower position, and the float-actuated switch is closed, thereby normally short-circuiting the magneto. To overcome this objection, however, the rock-shaft 29 of the switch 24 is connected with the spark-lever of the gas engine control, and therefore when the spark is retarded to start the engine, the rock-arm actuates the cam 28,thegeby breaking the circuit between the contact points 25 and 26 of the switch 24, and in this way opening the circuit of the magneto. The engine having been started; the tank 3 will be refilled with oil and .the float raised, thereby breaking the contact between the switch and the plug 19. As the engineis speeded up and the spark advanced accordingly, the rock-shaft is moved to such a position as to. again closethe circuit at contact-points 25 points, thereby short-cirand 26, thus arranging, the circuit in such a manner that the magneto may be again short-circuited, should the oil again become low in tank 3.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides means whereby the engine will be automatically stopped through the short-circuiting of the magneto at any time when the pump shall fail to give a suitable supply to the crank-case, thereby preventing any possibility of any undue damage from this source.

I claim:

1. In a gas engine, a normally open sparking circuit, spark controlling means. a normally open auxiliary circuit. means for automatically closing the auxiliary circuit, whereby the sparking circuit is short-circuited, and means controlled by the spark controlling means for re-opening said auxiliary circuit.

2. In a gas-engine, a normally open sparking circuit, a source of supply for the spark ing-circuit, a normally open auxiliary circuit, means for automatically closing the auxiliary circuit whereby the source of supply is short-circuited. and means common to said spark circuit and auxiliary circuit whereby the auxiliary circuit is again broken when the spark is retarded.

3. In a gas engine, an oiltank, a float arranged in said tank. a normally open sparking-circuit. spark controlling means. a normally open auxiliary circuit, means controlled by the float for automatically closing the auxiliary circuit, and means controlled by the spar: controlling means for re-opening said auxiliary circuit.

4. In a gas engine. an oil tank. a float arranged in said tank. a. normally open sparking circuit, spark controlling means. a source of supply. a normally open auxiliary circuit, a switch arranged in series with said auxiliary circuit. said switch adapted to be closed by said float when the latter assumes the lowermost position within said tank, and an additional normally closed switch connectetl in series with said auxiliary circuit, and actuated by said spark controlling means, whereby the auxiliary circuit is again broken when the spark is retarded.

In a gas-engine, an oil-tank. a float arranged in said tank having radial spacing fins extending laterally therefrom. inlet and outlet ports at the upper end of the oiltank. a drain from said tank below said float leading into said outlet of less capacity than that of said inlet. a normally open sparking circuit. spark controlling means. a normally open auxiliary circuit. a switch in series therewith arranged above and actuated by said float for closing said circuit when the float assumes its lowermost position. and an additional normally closed switch connected in series with said auxiliary circuit and controlled by said spark controlling means. whereby the auxiliary circuit is again broken when the spark is retarded.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

IVILLIAM ZEBELL. 

